Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Shares of Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the sixteen research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, nine have assigned a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $225.50.

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on UHS shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of Universal Health Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, November 9th. TD Cowen dropped their price target on shares of Universal Health Services from $275.00 to $251.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Universal Health Services from $285.00 to $230.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 25th. Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Universal Health Services from $236.00 to $274.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 4th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Universal Health Services from $256.00 to $271.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Universal Health Services news, Director Maria Ruderman Singer sold 1,614 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $191.15, for a total value of $308,516.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 5,879 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,123,770.85. This represents a 21.54 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 16.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Universal Health Services

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its position in Universal Health Services by 362.3% in the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 322,626 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $59,663,000 after buying an additional 252,846 shares in the last quarter. Marshall Wace LLP lifted its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 357.9% in the 2nd quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 261,221 shares of the health services provider's stock worth $48,308,000 after acquiring an additional 204,178 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Universal Health Services by 408.2% in the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 140,561 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $25,994,000 after acquiring an additional 112,902 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Universal Health Services by 102.0% during the third quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 210,926 shares of the health services provider's stock valued at $48,304,000 after acquiring an additional 106,517 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Universal Health Services during the second quarter valued at approximately $18,031,000. 86.05% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Universal Health Services Stock Up 0.5 %

NYSE UHS traded up $0.96 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $187.40. The company had a trading volume of 498,144 shares, compared to its average volume of 643,320. The firm's 50 day moving average is $207.54 and its 200 day moving average is $208.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.28. Universal Health Services has a fifty-two week low of $147.33 and a fifty-two week high of $243.25. The company has a market capitalization of $12.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.46, a P/E/G ratio of 0.60 and a beta of 1.28.

Universal Health Services (NYSE:UHS - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The health services provider reported $3.71 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.75 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $3.90 billion. Universal Health Services had a return on equity of 15.75% and a net margin of 6.66%. Universal Health Services's quarterly revenue was up 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.55 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Universal Health Services will post 15.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Universal Health Services Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 17th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 3rd will be paid a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 3rd. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.43%. Universal Health Services's payout ratio is currently 5.32%.

About Universal Health Services

Universal Health Services, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates acute care hospitals, and outpatient and behavioral health care facilities. It operates through Acute Care Hospital Services and Behavioral Health Care Services segments. The company's hospitals offer general and specialty surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics, emergency room care, radiology, oncology, diagnostic and coronary care, pediatric services, pharmacy services, and/or behavioral health services.